The Lineup Card: Cold Brew

Projected Starters - A look at Wednesday's matchups:

Rangers (Derek Holland - L) at Rays (James Shields - R), 1:10 ET
Brewers (Randy Wolf - L) at Cardinals (Adam Wainwright - R), 2:15 ET
Padres (Clayton Richard - L) at Cubs (Casey Coleman - R), 2:20 ET
Blue Jays (Marc Rzepczynski - L) at Athletics (Gio Gonzalez - L), 3:35 ET
Giants (Matt Cain - R) at Phillies (Joe Blanton - R), 7:05 ET
Marlins (Josh Johnson - R) at Pirates (Ross Ohlendorf - R), 7:05 ET
Mariners (David Pauley - R) at Orioles (Jeremy Guthrie - R), 7:05 ET
Tigers (Jeremy Bonderman - R) at Yankees (Dustin Moseley - R), 7:05 ET
Nationals (Livan Hernandez - R) at Braves (Tim Hudson - R), 7:10 ET
Angels (Scott Kazmir - L) at Red Sox (John Lackey - R), 7:10 ET
Mets (R.A. Dickey - R) at Astros (Brett Myers - R), 8:05 ET
Indians (Fausto Carmona - R) at Royals (Bruce Chen - L), 8:10 ET
White Sox (Gavin Floyd - R) at Twins (Francisco Liriano - L), 8:10 ET
Reds (Edinson Volquez - R) at Diamondbacks (Rodrigo Lopez - R), 9:40 ET
Rockies (Jason Hammel - R) at Dodgers (Hiroki Kuroda - R), 10:10 ET

Day game after a night game: TEX, MIL, STL, SDG, CHC, TOR, OAK

Injuries - A brief look at players who have been missing time with injuries and their expected returns

Day-to-Day (includes players expected to make their return from the DL)
Michael Young, 3B, Rangers (neck) - Left Monday's game with stiff neck and did not start Tuesday, remains day-to-day.
Alex Rodriguez, 3B, Yankees (calf) - Sore, not in Tuesday's lineup.
Lance Berkman, 1B, Yankees (ankle) - Sore, not in Tuesday's lineup.
Carlos Guillen, OF, Tigers (knee) - Out indefinitely.
Bobby Jenks, P, White Sox (back) - Says he will be ready Wednesday.
Michael Saunders, OF, Mariners (shoulder) - Got night off Tuesday for sore shoulder.
Ryan Langerhans, OF, Mariners (head) - Severe headache, got Tuesday off.
Jeff Keppinger, 3B, Astros (toe) - Out of Tuesday's game, having MRI.
Matt Lindstrom, P, Astros (back) - Won't close until he is 100%.
Josh Willingham, OF, Nationals (knee) - Feeling worse, could hit DL.
Ronny Cedeno, SS, Pirates (shoulder) - Tried to make Tuesday comeback but was scratched.
Derrek Lee, 1B, Cubs (back) - Should be back in lineup Thursday.
Colby Rasmus, OF, Cardinals (calf) - Says he will miss four games.

Players on the DL
Eric Patterson, OF, Red Sox (neck) - Conveniently cleared space to activate Dustin Pedroia, probably conveniently out until rosters expand.
Justin Morneau, 1B, Twins (concussion) - Took batting practice, but no word on next action.
Milton Bradley, OF, Mariners (knee) - Had minor surgery, out 4-6 weeks.
Andrew Bailey, P, Athletics (oblique) - Should be back after another simulated game.
Rich Harden, P, Rangers (shoulder) - Tuesday's rehab start postponed for undisclosed reasons.
Andy Pettitte, P, Yankees (groin) - Had a setback, won't pitch for a week.
Chris Young, P, Padres (shoulder) - Threw bullpen session, targeting early September return.
Manny Ramirez, OF, Dodgers (calf) - Could begin minor league rehab this week.
Carlos Silva, P, Cubs (illness) - Threw off mound, could return next week.
Eric O'Flaherty, P, Braves (illness) - Could be activated Thursday.
Aaron Harang, P, Reds (back) - Didn't have a good rehab start, will remain in Triple-A until he improves or until spot opens.
Ryan Howard, 1B, Phillies (ankle) - Look for Friday activation, slight possibility it will come sooner.
Nyjer Morgan, OF, Nationals (hip) - Scratched from Tuesday rehab
Francisco Rodriguez, P, Mets (personal, thumb) - NOT actually on DL, done for season after recent tirade.
Taylor Buchholz, P, Rockies (back) - Placed on DL Tuesday.
LaTroy Hawkins, P, Brewers (shoulder) - Season-ending surgery is possible.
Geovany Soto, C, Cubs (shoulder) - Should be activated Sunday.
David Eckstein, 2B, Padres (calf) - Should begin minor league rehab Wednesday.

Transactions - Players who have been demoted, called up, traded, released, you name it. We'll cover it here.

Called Up
Bryan Anderson, C, Cardinals
Ryota Igarashi, P, Red Sox

Sent Down
Greg Dobbs, 3B, Phillies (designated for assignment)
Micah Owings, P, Reds (designated for assignment)
Tyler Greene, SS, Cardinals
Steven Hill, C, Cardinals
Daniel Nava, Red Sox
Brandon Hicks, 3B, Braves
Todd Wellemeyer, P, Giants (released)

Activated from the DL
Nick Punto, SS, Twins
Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Red Sox
Chase Utley, 2B, Phillies
Martin Prado, 2B, Braves

Placed on DL (15-day unless otherwise noted)
Eric Patterson, OF, Red Sox
Francisco Rodriguez, P, Mets (restricted list)

Closer Watch - A closer look at intriguing ninth-inning situations (check out Dave Regan's Closer Grid with the link to the left)

DET - Jose Valverde is in no danger of losing his job, but it is notable that he walked four before finally closing out the Yankees on Monday. Just a few weeks ago he walked five in another game.

BAL - It still looks like the job belongs to Alfredo Simon, but Koji Uehara and Mike Gonzalez struck out a combined six while converting six outs in a key stretch during Monday's game. One or the other could get an audition as closer.

LAD - Lord only knows what is going on in this closing carousel. Hong-Chih Kuo tried to convert a two-inning save Monday, but he got into trouble before Octavio Dotel entered the game. Then Dotel let the Braves get a walk-off win.

Key Matchups - Spotlight on hitters and pitchers with favorable matchups against their opponent on a particular day (generally, individual matchups with fewer than 10 at-bats are not included) *Check status

Hot
Martin Prado v. Livan Hernandez - 7-for-13 (.538), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0:0 BB:K, .538 OBP
Ivan Rodriguez v. Tim Hudson - 14-for-32 (.438), 2 HR, 8 RBI, 2:2 BB:K, .471 OBP
Adam Dunn v. Tim Hudson - 9-for-25 (.360), 2 HR, 4 RBI, 1:3 BB:K, .385
Carlos Lee v. R.A. Dickey - 5-for-7 (.714), 1 HR, 5 RBI, 0:2 BB:K, .714 OBP
Jonny Gomes v. Rodrigo Lopez - 8-for-17 (.471), 2 HR, 3 RBI, 1:5 BB:K, .474 OBP
Vladimir Guerrero v. James Shields - 12-for-30 (.400), 2 HR, 6 RBI, 0:1 BB:K, .400 OBP
Chone Figgins v. Jeremy Guthrie - 7-for-17 (.412), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 1:2 BB:K, .444 OBP
Victor Martinez v. Scott Kazmir - 7-for-13 (.538), 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1:1 BB:K, .571 OBP
Jason Kubel v. Gavin Floyd - 11-for-32 (.344), 4 HR, 9 RBI, 1:7 BB:K, .353 OBP
Denard Span v. Gavin Floyd - 10-for-21 (.476), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 0:3 BB:K, .476 OBP
Alexei Ramirez v. Francisco Lirano - 7-for-14 (.500), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1:0 BB:K, .533 OBP
Alex Gordon v. Fausto Carmona - 8-for-16 (.500), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 2:3 BB:K, .556 OBP

Adam Wainwright v. Brewers - Take a look below and see all the cold players that face Wainwright in Milwaukee's lineup. These aren't the soft offensive guys that have struggled, but the established guys the Brewers rely on to stay in games. Corey Hart has a respectable .263 line in 38 at-bats, but no one else in the regular lineup will scream at Wainwright here. Then again, you weren't planning on sitting the possible Cy Young favorite, were you?

Tim Hudson v. Nationals - Just as with Wainwright, several Nationals appear below. The difference is that there are also two Nationals above in Adam Dunn and Ivan Rodriguez, each of whom has had success against Hudson. The way Hudson has pitched, no one will be sitting him anyway. It is simply notable that he has dominated Ryan Zimmerman and Josh Willingham the way he has.

Cold
Yadier Molina v. Randy Wolf - 3-for-18 (.167), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0:1 BB:K, .167 OBP
Prince Fielder v. Adam Wainwright - 6-for-25 (.171), 1 HR, 5 RBI, 10:13 BB:K, .356 OBP
Ryan Braun v. Adam Wainwright - 7-for-38 (.184), 2 HR, 5 RBI, 1:8 BB:K, .244 OBP
Rickie Weeks v. Adam Wainwright - 4-for-24 (.167), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3:5 BB:K, .286 OBP
Casey McGehee v. Adam Wainwright - 1-for-12 (.083), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1:3 BB:K, .154 OBP
Alex Gonzalez v. Livan Hernandez - 4-for-43 (.093), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 2:10 BB:K, .149 OBP
Ryan Zimmerman v. Tim Hudson - 5-for-31 (.161), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2:6 BB:K, .212 OBP
Josh Willingham v. Tim Hudson - 1-for-20 (.050), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3:7 BB:K, .174 OBP
Luis Castillo v. Brett Myers - 6-for-38 (.158), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 4:11 BB:K, .238 OBP
Jeff Francoeur v. Brett Myers - 7-for-38 (.184), 2 HR, 3 RBI, 1:8 BB:K, .205 OBP
Mark Teixeira v. Jeremy Bonderman - 1-for-15 (.067), 0 HR, 1 RBI 1:3 BB:K, .125 OBP
David Ortiz v. Scott Kazmir - 9-for-44 (.205), 2 HR, 8 RBI, 6:11 BB:K, .300 OBP
Adrian Beltre v. Scott Kazmir - 3-for-20 (.150), 0 HR, 0 RBI, 3:10 BB:K, .261 OBP
Alexis Rios v. Francisco Lirano - 2-for-15 (.133), 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0:5 BB:K, .133 OBP

Jeremy Guthrie v. Mariners - Only one week after I recommended Guthrie as a pickup, I have to point out his struggles against the Mariners lineup. He is on the low end of a sample size with 111 plate appearances against, but Guthrie has had trouble getting several Mariners out. His line against is an eye-opening .333/.369/.581. Again, it is a small sample size and Guthrie is on a real hot stretch right now. This one is a real toss-up, but head-to-head leagues will want to count up total starts for you and your opponent when trying to make a decision.

Recommended Pickup

Hisanori Takahashi, P, Mets - With Francisco Rodriguez out for the year, it was assumed that Bobby Parnell and Pedro Feliciano would compete for saves. But it was Takahashi who was summoned to pitch a perfect ninth and notch his first save on Monday. There could still be a committee here, so keep a watchful eye on how things develop between Mets closing candidates. For now it appears Takahshi is the pick, but Monday's game was tied when Feliciano entered to close out the eighth and then the Mets scored two in the top of the inning before Takahashi entered.

Other recent recommendations:Eric Young, Jhoulys Chacin, Hong-Chih Kuo, Starlin Castro, Felix Pie